Theme: ‘One life, one liver.’
It’s time to scale up access to testing and treatment to save life.
World hepatitis day is observed every year on July 28 to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and its impact on global health. The day aims to promote prevention, testing and treatment, and to show support for those affected by hepatitis. The distressing figures showing that someone dies from hepatitis or other associated illnesses every 30 seconds globally give rise to the necessity of this awareness campaign. A hidden killer that causes many fatalities each year is viral hepatitis. The goal of World Hepatitis Day is to increase public awareness of the issue and the steps that need to be taken to improve efforts at viral hepatitis prevention, screening, and control.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HEPATITIS
- Timely testing and treatment of hepatitis B and C can save lives.
- Left untreated, hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer.
- Contaminated needles can transmit hepatitis B and C.
- Eating contaminated food and water can cause hepatitis A and C.
FACTS TO NOTE
- Your liver silently performs over 500 vital functions every single day to keep you alive.
- But viral hepatitis infection is also silent, with symptoms only appearing once the disease is advanced. Although there are many different types of hepatitis viruses (A to E), hepatitis B and C are the most concerning and cause nearly 8000 new infections every day, which are mostly going undetected.
- Over one million hepatitis-related deaths every single year and one new chronic infection every ten seconds. And that’s why liver health is fundamental to human health.
- So many hepatitis deaths could be prevented. Because there are vaccines and effective treatments for hepatitis B and even a cure for hepatitis C. You can protect yourself and your loved ones.
Significance of World Hepatitis Day
- The significance of World Hepatitis Day is to increase public awareness of viral hepatitis and its effects on public health. On this day, communities, people, and politicians may learn about the many varieties of hepatitis, as well as about preventative strategies, testing, and treatment choices.
- It promotes global advocacy and cooperation in the fight against the rising number of hepatitis-related diseases and fatalities.
- World Hepatitis Day is essential for encouraging a coordinated worldwide response and working towards the WHO’s target of eradicating viral hepatitis as a significant public health hazard by 2030 by stressing the need for greater immunization, early diagnosis, and improved access to healthcare services.
You’ve only got one life, and you’ve only got one liver. Hepatitis can devastate both. Speak to your local healthcare provider to find out how to protect yourself from hepatitis.
YOUR HEALTH PHARMACY
Making your health our priority.